Municipal Elections

On or before 2:00 p.m. on March 31, 2023, a candidate shall file with the Clerk with whom the nomination was filed a financial statement and auditor's report (see below if required), each in the prescribed form, reflecting the candidate's election campaign finances. Financial statements must be filed even if the candidate withdrew their nomination, did not actively campaign, was acclaimed, filed a Notice of Extension of Campaign (see below), or their nomination was not certified by the Clerk.

If the financial statement is not filed by the deadline, this statement may be filed within 30 days thereafter but requires payment of a $500 late filing fee in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act. This grace period ends at 2:00 p.m. on May 1, 2023. If a candidate files their financial statement within the 30-day grace period they will not receive a refund of their nomination fee.

Supplementary Financial Statements

Any candidate who may be in a deficit position at the end of the campaign period (January 3, 2023) may choose to extend their campaign by filing a Notice of Extension of Campaign (Form 6) to the Clerk. The deadline for a candidate to file a Form 6 is 4:30 p.m. on January 3, 2023 to extend their campaign until June 30, 2023, to continue raising money.

Candidates who extend their campaign must file two financial statements:

• The initial filing, which details all campaign finances from the day the nomination was filed until January 3, 2023 (due by 2:00 p.m. on March 31, 2023).
• The supplementary filing, which details all campaign finances from the day the nomination was filed until June 30, 2023 (due by 2:00 p.m. on September 29, 2023).

Auditor's Report

If a candidate raised or spent more than $10,000 they must have their financial statement audited and include the auditor's report when they submit their financial statement to the Clerk.

Note: An auditor's report must be prepared by an auditor licensed under the Public Accounting Act, 2004.

Posted Financial Statements

All financial statements filed with the Clerk are posted on this webpage for public viewing. The financial statements that have been filed to date can be accessed by clicking on the link next to the candidate's name below:

• Martin Ritsma - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Robert Ritz - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Kathy Vassilakos - Financial Statement - Form 4

• Brad Beatty - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Lesley Biehn - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Taylor Briscoe - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Jo-Dee Burbach - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Lisa Cloutier - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Jason Davis - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Ryan Doyle - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Tom Drake - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Tim Forster - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Dave Gaffney - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Bonnie Henderson - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Mark Hunter - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Alan Kasperski - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Geoff Krauter - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Kevin Kruchkywich - Financial Statement - Form 4
• John Lewis - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Larry McCabe - Financial Statement - Form 4
• James Montgomery - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Ian Morton - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Harj Nijjar - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Jobyna Powath - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Don Robinson - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Rob Russell - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Cody Sebben - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Robb Williamson - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Ken Wood - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Geza Wordofa - Financial Statement - Form 4

• Michael Bannerman - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Deepika Mishra - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Andrew Mugford - Financial Statement - Form 4
• Bruce Whitaker - Financial Statement - Form 4

     Tina Doherty - Financial Statement - Form 4

In Default - no financial statement filed

In accordance with Section 88.23 of the Municipal Elections Act, the following candidates are in effect of default:

Councillor

• D’Astous, Pascal
• Nedecki, Daniel

Clerk's Report on Financial Filing Compliance

In accordance with section 88.23(4) of the Municipal Elections Act, the Clerk shall make available to the public a report setting out all candidates in an election and indicate whether each candidate complied with section 88.25:

   Clerk's Report on Financial Filing Compliance

On or before 2:00 p.m. on March 31, 2023, a registered third party advertiser shall file with the Clerk with whom the registration was filed a financial statement and auditor's report (see below if required), each in the prescribed form, reflecting the third party advertiser's election campaign finances.

If the financial statement is not filed by the deadline, this statement may be filed within 30 days thereafter but requires payment of a $500 late filing fee in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act. This grace period ends at 2:00 p.m. on May 1, 2023.

Third party advertisers who extend their campaign must file two financial statements:

• The initial filing, which details all campaign finances from the day the registration was filed until January 3, 2023 (due by 2:00 p.m. on March 31, 2023).
• The supplementary filing, which details all campaign finances from the day the registration was filed until June 30, 2023 (due by 2:00 p.m. on September 29, 2023).

If a registered third party advertiser raised or spent more than $10,000 they must have their financial statement audited and include the auditor's report when they submit their financial statement to the Clerk.
Note: An auditor's report must be prepared by an auditor licensed under the Public Accounting Act, 2004.

All financial statements filed with the Clerk are posted on this webpage for public viewing. The financial statements that have been filed to date can be accessed by clicking on the link next to the third party advertiser's name below:

  Michael Sullivan - Financial Statement - Form 8

Clerk's Report on Financial Filing Compliance

In accordance with section 88.29(11) of the Municipal Elections Act, the Clerk shall make available to the public a report setting out all registered third parties in an election and indicate whether each complied with section 88.29:

   Clerk's Report on Financial Filing Compliance

The City’s Sign By-law 159-2004 prohibits and regulates signs and other advertising devices, including election signs, within the City of Stratford. Section 21.1 of the By-law outlines the specific rules for election signs. 

In accordance with the City’s Sign By-law, September 9, 2022 is the first day election signs can be displayed in the City of Stratford for the 2022 Municipal Election. Election signs must be removed within forty-eight (48) hours immediately following 11:59 p.m. of the day of the election (October 24).

For an additional resource to the Sign By-law please refer to the Election Sign Candidate Information Bulletin.

Sign Content

The following content requirements for election signs must be adhered to in accordance with section 21.1(g) of the City’s Sign By-law:

1. Each Election Sign shall identify who is responsible for the messaging.
2. Each Third Party Sign shall identify the name of the registered Third Party, the municipality where the Third Party is registered and a telephone number, mailing address or email address at which the registered Third Party may be contacted.
3. No person shall display the City’s logo or the City’s municipal election logo, crest, seal or other City identification in whole or in part, on any Election Sign.

Sign Complaints

To submit a complaint regarding an election sign that may not be installed in accordance with the City’s Sign By-law, please complete the City of Stratford By-law Complaint Form.

In the event of non-compliance with the Sign By-law, Stratford Municipal Law Enforcement Officers will contact the Candidate or Third Party Advertiser about the concern and work collaboratively with them to bring the sign into compliance. Alternatively, the individual responsible for the sign may be asked to remove the sign in contravention of the By-law. Should any signs be placed that cause an immediate safety concern, such as impacting visibility within a sight triangle, By-law Enforcement will remove the sign and contact the individual afterwards to advise.

The Compliance Audit Committee (CAC) is responsible for reviewing and considering compliance audit applications submitted by an elector who believes that a Candidate or Registered Third Party Advertiser has contravened a provision of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) relating to election campaign finances. The CAC is also responsible for reviewing reports submitted by the City Clerk with respect to any contributor who appears to have contravened any of the contribution limits to a candidates’ election campaign or to a Registered Third Party Advertiser. The Committee has the authority to:

• Grant or reject a compliance audit application;
• Appoint an auditor to conduct an audit where the application is granted;
• Consider the auditor’s or Clerk’s report within 30 days of receiving it; and
• Decide whether to commence legal proceedings against the Candidate, a contributor or Registered Third Party for any apparent contravention.

2022 Compliance Audit Committee

For the 2022 Municipal Election, a Joint Compliance Audit Committee will be established between the City of Stratford, Town of St. Marys, Municipality of North Perth, Township of Perth East, Township of Perth South and Municipality of West Perth.

The term of the Committee will commence in 2022 and continue through to 2026. Municipal Election Candidates have until Monday May 1, 2023 to file their Financial Statements. Any requests for a Compliance Audit will occur after that date.

While Compliance Audit requests for the 2022 Municipal Election must be submitted by Thursday June 29, 2023, a by-election could result in the need for the Joint Compliance Audit Committee to sit during the term of Council.

Committee members shall receive an honorarium of $150.00 per meeting attended, plus mileage.

Thank you for your interest in serving as a member for the 2022 Municipal Election Joint Compliance Audit Committee. Applications to be a member on the Committee are now closed.

First day to file a nomination for an office on Stratford City Council or school board trustee during regular business hours.

First day to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser.

Deadline for candidates to:

• file a nomination; or
• withdraw a nomination.
  
  

First possible lame duck period. Lame duck is in effect should less than three-quarters of the existing Members of Council seek re-election.

Deadline for the City Clerk to certify candidate nominations by signing the nomination paper if satisfied that a person is qualified to be nominated and that the nomination complies with the Municipal Elections Act.

Revision period begins for the Voters’ List. This is also the last day to reproduce the voters’ list and set out any revision procedures.

Voters' list is made available to all candidates.

First day in accordance with Sign By-law 159-2004 that election signs may be displayed by a candidate or registered third party advertiser.

Voting Period begins and runs until 8:00 p.m. on Voting Day (October 24, 2022).

Last day for third party advertisers to file a notice of registration.

Eligible electors can vote via internet or telephone up until 8:00 p.m.

Second possible lame duck period. Lame duck is in effect should less than three-quarters of the outgoing Council be re-elected.

New term of office begins.

Last day for candidates and registered third parties to file a supplementary financial statement and auditor's report with a $500 late filing fee.

The City of Stratford is committed to providing an accessible and barrier-free community and services. Prior to the 2022 Municipal Election, the 2022 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan was prepared and outlines the measures that the City of Stratford would be implementing in order to ensure that all voters and candidates have an equal opportunity to participate in the 2022 Municipal Election.

The 2022 Accessibility Report was prepared following the election and outlines how barriers were identified, removed and prevented during the 2022 municipal and school board election.

If you require the 2022 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan or the 2022 Accessibility Report in an alternate format, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at elections@stratford.ca.

Your feedback on accessible voting is essential to us in providing an election that is accessible to all electors. With your help, the City Clerk’s Office will continue to learn, develop and adjust our approaches in order to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

You can provide feedback to us:

• by telephone at 519-271-0250 extension 5237
• by email to elections@stratford.ca
• using the Customer Service Feedback Form available here: https://forms.stratford.ca/Customer-Service-Feedback
• In writing to the attention of the City Clerk, 1 Wellington St, Stratford, ON, N5A 6W1
• In person to the Returning Officer

• AMCTO Candidate's Guide to Accessible Elections

• Accessible All Candidates Meetings - Quick Reference Guide

Legislation

• Municipal Elections Act

• Municipal Act

• Sign By-law #159-2004

• Use of Municipal Resources During an Election Period - Policy C.3.14

• 2018 Municipal Election

• 2014 Municipal Election

• 2010 Municipal Election

• 2006 Municipal Election